It is very common to find mule deer with a hurt leg or other injury due to being hit by a car. Unfortunately, rehabilitation of adult deer in the State of Oregon is prohibited. If you believe the deer is suffering and will not survive, contact the Oregon State Police non-emergency number at 800-442-0776 or Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department at 541-388-6363 for euthanasia. Otherwise, it is best to leave it be. These animals can survive and even thrive on three legs.
If you find a deer stuck in a fence or trap, contact ODFW at 541-388-6363.
What to do when you find a fawn that appears to be or is confirmed orphaned?
Young fawns are rarely orphaned, and usually a parent is just nearby foraging for food to bring back to the young. Oftentimes, mother deer will leave a fawn in your yard as a “safe place.” Leave them be for a while to let a parent return so you don’t accidentally babynap! Picking up and taking a baby fawn home to attempt care is illegal and will likely cause habituation and/or lethal gut issues due to improper nutrition.
If there is no parent to be found or they are confirmed deceased, please contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (541) 388-6363. There is a short window where orphaned fawns can be fostered by other deer with fawn at the same age.
Please remember that spaces at wildlife rehabilitation centers are very limited and are limited to certain species based on state and federal permitting, funding and capacity. It is not legal to rehabilitate adult deer in Oregon, and there is currently no full-time fawn rehabilitator in Central Oregon.
Think Wild is actively working to locate property, trained staffing, and funding to solve this gap in care. Fawn are extremely easily habituated and require specialized rehabilitation training and protocols. We cannot rehabilitate deer at our current property due to staffing capacity and noise from Neff Road.
If you are interested in this issue, have comments, or want to donate property or funds specifically for fawn, please send an email to info@thinkwildco.org. Thank you!
If you are having conflicts with deer on your property, try these humane mitigation techniques:
- Hanging CD’s, may not work if deer are used to urban living
- Planting deer resistant plants, such as Poppies, Yarrow, Lupine, Catmint, Bee Balm, Coreopsis, and more!
- Using chicken wire to create a barrier to protect trees
- Fencing that is at least 8 feet high and planted firmly in the ground
- Using motion-sensing noise makers or sprinklers
- Deer repellant spray